JPH1011331A - Information processing method, information processor, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the information processing method, information processor, and storage medium which can obtain information for knowing the state wherein abnormality occurs during the execution of a program if the abnormality is caused by a bug, etc., during program execution and a function of the controller stops. SOLUTION: When a user powers ON the information processor 12, the contents stored in saving areas B and C of a RAM 3 are moved to the A and B (S1). Then the contents stored in a work area X are stored in a saving area C (S2). Thus, pieces of information stored in the saving areas A-C are displayed at a display part 7, printed out on a printer 10, and put out of the RAM 3 by being stored on another storage medium (S12, S22, and S32) through user's operation on an operation part 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a processing means for executing a program and a first processing means used by the processing means.
And an information processing method in the information processing apparatus, and a storage medium for operating the information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, devices incorporating a microcomputer are used in various fields without limit, for example. The microcomputer includes:
Storage means such as a ROM for storing various programs, processing means such as a CPU for processing the programs,
A storage means such as a RAM for storing data processed by the processing means or the like is generally configured.

[0003] Conventionally, in an apparatus having a microcomputer as described above, if an abnormality occurs in the operation of the CPU due to a bug in a program or the like,
The function of the device stops. In such a case, the user forcibly terminates the device by operating an operation unit such as a switch or button provided on the device, and again operates the device by operating the operation unit again. Had been restarted.

[0004]

However, the storage of the above-mentioned storage means such as the RAM is volatile, and when the next step of the program is executed, or when the program being executed is terminated and another program is executed. In such a case, the contents are rewritten. When the power is turned off, the contents stored in the storage means are lost.

That is, when an abnormality occurs during the execution of the program stored in the storage means such as the ROM and the function of the apparatus is stopped, an operation unit such as a switch or a button provided in the apparatus is provided. When the user turns off the power of the apparatus by operating the user, the contents stored in the storage means such as the RAM are erased.

When the contents stored in the storage means such as the RAM are held by means such as a power supply backup or the like, the user operates the operation unit again to restart the apparatus. When the program is executed again, the information at the time of the occurrence of an abnormality in the operation of the CPU due to a bug of the program stored in the storage means is changed to the information based on the processing of the restarted program. It will be rewritten.

As described above, in a conventional device incorporating a microcomputer, when an abnormality occurs during the execution of a program, information for knowing the state at the time of occurrence of the program abnormality, for example, an abnormality occurs during the execution of the program Information such as measured data or measured data could not be obtained.

The present invention has been conceived in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and causes an abnormality in the operation of the CPU due to a bug in a program for operating the apparatus and the function of the apparatus is stopped. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing method, an information processing apparatus, and a storage medium that can obtain information for knowing a state when an abnormality occurs during execution of a program.

[0009]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical measures.

That is, the information processing method according to the first aspect of the present invention has processing means for executing a program and a first area used by the processing means, and the stored contents are lost even when the power is turned off. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus comprising: a storage unit that does not store the first area of the storage unit until the processing unit uses the first area of the storage unit when the power is turned on. A saving step of saving at least a part of the contents of the area in the second area of the storage means.

[0011] An information processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention has processing means for executing a program, and a first area used by the processing means. An information processing apparatus comprising: at least a content of the first area of the storage means before the processing means uses the first area of the storage means at power-on. It is characterized in that a retreating means for retreating a part to the second area of the storage means is provided.

Preferably, the information processing apparatus includes an output unit that can output the contents saved in the second area of the storage unit by the save unit to outside the storage unit.

Preferably, the information processing apparatus further comprises:
A display unit is provided for displaying the content output from the storage unit to the outside by the output unit.

[0014] Preferably, the second area of the storage means has a sufficient capacity to store a plurality of saved contents.

In such an information processing apparatus, when an abnormality occurs during the execution of a program, the power of the apparatus is turned off, and when the power is turned on again, the program is re-executed. Before the information for recognizing the state is rewritten, the information for recognizing the state at the time of occurrence of the abnormality is saved in the second area of the storage means. According to such an information processing apparatus, when an abnormality occurs in the operation of the processing unit due to a bug of the program during execution of the program, information for knowing a state at the time of occurrence of the abnormality can be stored.

Further, since the contents stored in the second area of the storage means are configured to be output to the outside of the storage means, a user, a person involved in creating the program, etc. You can know its contents. Thus, a person or the like involved in the creation of the program can examine a defect of the program from information for knowing a state at the time of occurrence of an abnormality during execution of the program, and can improve the contents of the program.

Further, if the second area of the storage means has a capacity enough to store the contents saved a plurality of times, the power is turned on in order to restart the information processing apparatus after an abnormality has occurred. Nevertheless, if the information processing device does not function properly, even if the user recognizes the abnormality of the information processing device and turns the power on and off a plurality of times before giving up, the power is turned off last time. It is possible to store the information saved when the power was turned off a plurality of times before, so the information to know the saved status at the time of the occurrence of the error is executed at the multiple restarts after the occurrence of the error It can be prevented from being rewritten by data based on the program. That is, even if the power of the apparatus is turned on and off a plurality of times after the occurrence of the abnormality, the information at the time of occurrence of the abnormality saved in the second area of the storage unit can be kept stored.

Note that at least a part of the contents of the first area of the storage means is information for knowing a state at the time of occurrence of an abnormality, for example, information for determining an execution step of a program. Not limited to this, all the contents of the first area of the storage means are stored in the second area of the storage means.
May be evacuated to the area. Examples of the information processing device include a personal computer, a workstation, and any other device including a microcomputer. In other words, the present invention is applicable to all devices in which the operation of the device is controlled by executing the program. The processing means is realized by a CPU, a processor, or the like. The storage means is a RAM
And so on. The saving means and the output means are realized by executing a predetermined program by a CPU or a processor. The display means is realized by providing the information processing apparatus with a display unit capable of displaying characters using a liquid crystal or the like. Further, the output of the contents saved by the saving means to the outside of the storage means may be performed by storing the saved contents in another storage medium such as a flexible disk or by printing out the saved contents. Or by displaying the contents saved as described above on a display unit provided in the information processing apparatus.

A storage medium according to a third aspect of the present invention has processing means for executing a program and a first area used by the processing means, and the stored contents are not lost even when the power is turned off. Storage means, and a storage medium storing a program for operating an information processing apparatus comprising: a power supply, when the first area of the storage means is used by the processing means at the time of power-on, A save program for saving at least a part of the contents of the first area of the storage means to a second area of the storage means is stored.

According to this storage medium, the effects of the information processing apparatus described above can be enjoyed by causing the CPU or the processor controlling the information processing apparatus to execute the contents of the stored program.

As storage media, ROM, EEPRO
M and a flexible disk are conceivable, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a CD-ROM or the like may be used.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

The information processing device 12 includes a CPU 1 and a ROM
2, RAM3, EEPROM4, interface 5,
Operation unit 6, display unit 7, output unit 8, input unit 9, printer 1
0 and a power supply 11. CPU1, ROM2,
RAM 3, EEPROM 4, and interface 5
Are interconnected by a bus line. The bus line is
It includes a data bus, an address bus and a control signal line. An operation unit 6, a display unit 7, an output unit 8, an input unit 9, and a printer 10 are connected to the interface 5. The power supply to the information processing apparatus 12 is performed by a power supply 11. The RAM 3 is provided with a power backup.

The CPU 1 controls the entire information processing apparatus 12. The ROM 2 stores various programs and data. The RAM 3 stores information such as data processed or processed by the CPU 1 and measurement data. The EEPROM 4 stores flags and the like. The interface 5 controls input and output to and from the CPU 1. The operation unit 6 includes a switch for switching between energization and de-energization of electric power from the power supply 11 to the information processing apparatus 12, and an operation button and key switch group for inputting a command to the CPU 1. The display unit 7 includes a liquid crystal display capable of displaying characters and the like.
And various displays are performed. The output unit 8 outputs the contents stored in the RAM 3 to the information processing device 1.
2 to the outside. The input unit 9 receives detection signals from various sensors (not shown). The printer 10 prints out measurement data and the like input from the input unit 9.

That is, the CPU 1 constitutes processing means for executing a program. The RAM 3 has a first area used by the processing unit, and constitutes a storage unit that does not lose its stored contents even when the power is turned off. CPU
1 means that when the power is turned on, the first area of the RAM 3 is not used until the first area of the RAM 3 is used by the storage means.
Of the area of the RAM 3 in the second area of the RAM 3. CPU1
The output unit can output the contents saved in the second area of the RAM 3 by the saving unit to the outside of the RAM 3. The display unit 7 and the printer 10 constitute display means for displaying the content output from the output means to the outside of the RAM 3.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the RAM 3 of the information processing device 12. The RAM 3 includes a work area X and save areas A, B, and C. The work area X is
The CPU 1 stores information such as data to be processed, processed data, and measurement data, which are used to execute a program. The evacuation area A stores, in the evacuation area B, the contents stored in the work area X at the time when the power supply to the information processing apparatus 12 was shut off two times before.
Shows the contents stored in the work area X when the power supply to the information processing apparatus 12 was cut off two times before, and the evacuation area C shows the contents when the power supply to the information processing apparatus 12 was cut off the last time. The contents stored in the work area X are stored.

Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus 12 configured as described above will be described. First, when the information processing device 12 is energized by the user, the contents stored in the save areas B and C of the RAM 3 are moved to A and B, respectively. Next, the contents stored in the work area X are stored in the save area C. Specifically, the order of writing in each of the areas A to C is stored, the information written first is replaced with the latest information, and the storage of the writing order is changed accordingly. The information stored in the evacuation area in this manner is displayed on the display unit 7, printed out by the printer 10, or stored in another storage medium by the user operating the operation unit 6. Is output to the outside of the RAM 3.

Next, the procedure of the evacuation process of the information processing apparatus 12 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. It is assumed that the contents stored in the RAM 3 in the present embodiment are not erased even when the power supply to the information processing apparatus 12 is cut off by the power supply backup, and are stored without being erased.

First, when power is supplied to the information processing apparatus 12 by operating a switch or the like provided on the operation unit 6 by the user, the CPU 1
Is moved to the evacuation area A (S
1) The contents stored in the save area C are moved to the save area B (S2). Next, the CPU 1 stores the contents stored in the work area X, that is, various data written by the CPU 1 in the evacuation area C which has become an empty area by the above operation (S3), and terminates this routine.

This series of processes is performed prior to other processes when the power is turned on.
When an abnormality occurs in the operation 1, the power supply to the device is cut off, and when the power supply is performed again, the information at the time of occurrence of the abnormality stored in the work area X is rewritten by executing the program when the power supply is performed again. Before that, the information can be saved in the save area. According to such an information processing apparatus, when an abnormality occurs in the operation of the CPU 1 during execution of a program, information for knowing a state at the time of occurrence of the abnormality, for example, information for determining a program execution step or measurement data The information at the time of occurrence of an abnormality can be known by outputting the contents stored in the save areas A to C outside the RAM 3 by a method described later or the like.

Next, the display processing of the contents stored in the evacuation areas A to C by the evacuation processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the CPU 1 operates the switch or button provided on the operation unit 6 to input an instruction to display the contents saved in the evacuation areas A to C on the display unit by the user. Is determined (S1
1). When the CPU 1 determines that the user has instructed to display the contents evacuated to the evacuation areas A to C on the display unit (S11: YES), the CPU 1 is evacuated to the evacuation areas A to C. Output the contents to the output unit (S
12) The contents are displayed on the display unit (S13), and this routine ends. In S11, the CPU 1
However, if it is determined that the user did not give an instruction to display the contents saved in the save areas A to C (S11: NO), this routine is ended.

Next, the output processing of the contents stored in the evacuation areas A to C by the evacuation processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the user operates a switch or button provided on the operation unit 6 by the user, an instruction to output the contents stored in the evacuation areas A to C to the outside of the information processing apparatus 12 is issued. It is determined whether or not an input has been made (S21). CPU 1 is in the evacuation area A-
If it is determined that an instruction to output the contents stored in C to the outside of the information processing apparatus 12 has been input (S2
1: YES), and outputs the contents stored in the save areas A to C in the RAM 3 to the output unit 8 via the interface 5 under the control of the CPU 1 (S22). The contents stored in the save areas A to C output to the output unit 8 are stored in a storage medium such as a flexible disk by connecting the output unit 8 and a flexible disk drive (not shown) with a cable or the like. Can be memorized.

In S21, the CPU 1 sets the evacuation areas A to
When it is determined that an instruction to output the content stored in C to the outside of the information processing apparatus 12 has not been input (S1).
3: NO), and when the output of the contents stored in the save areas A to C to the outside of the information processing device 12 in S15 ends, this routine ends.

Next, the print processing of the contents stored in the save areas A to C by the save processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the CPU 1 operates a switch or a button provided on the operation unit 6 by the user, and an instruction to print out the contents stored in the save areas A to C by the printer 10 is input. It is determined whether or not it is (S31). If the CPU 1 determines that an instruction to print out the contents stored in the save areas A to C by the printer 10 has been input (S3).
1: YES), the CPU outputs the contents stored in the save areas A to C to the printer 10 (S32). Next, the contents output from the save areas A to C are printed by the printer 10 (S33), and this routine ends. Also, when the CPU 1 determines that an instruction to print out the contents stored in the save areas A to C by the printer 10 has not been input (S3).
1: NO), this routine ends.

As described above, the save areas A to C of the RAM 3
Is configured to be output to the outside of the RAM 3, so that the user and those involved in the creation of the program can know the contents. Thus, a person or the like involved in the creation of the program can examine a defect of the program from information for knowing a state at the time of occurrence of an abnormality during execution of the program, and can improve the contents of the program.

The information processing device 12 according to the present embodiment
The contents stored in the evacuation areas A to C are configured to be output to the outside of the RAM 3 and thus to the outside of the information processing device 12, so that the user and the person who has been involved in the creation of the program have been executed a plurality of times. It is possible to know the contents stored in the save area of the RAM 3 when the power is turned off from the last time. This makes it possible to obtain information for knowing the state at the time of occurrence of a program error even when the power is turned off a plurality of times, for example, when a program error occurs, and from this information, a person involved in the creation of the program. However, it is possible to examine the cause of the abnormality and the defect of the program in which the abnormality has occurred, and improve the contents of the program.

Further, since the RAM 3 has save areas A to C each having a capacity enough to store data saved a plurality of times, in this embodiment, three times, the information processing device 12 after the occurrence of an abnormality. If the information processing device 12 does not function normally even though the power is turned on to restart the device, the power is turned on and off until the user recognizes the abnormality of the information processing device 12 and gives up. Even if it is performed a plurality of times, it is possible to store the information saved from the previous power-off to the power-off multiple times before, so that it is possible to know the state at the time of the saved abnormality occurrence. It is possible to prevent the information from being rewritten to data based on the program executed at the time of restarting a plurality of times after the occurrence of the abnormality. That is, even if the power of the device is turned on and off a plurality of times after the occurrence of the abnormality,
It is possible to continue to save the information at the time of occurrence of the abnormality saved in the save area of the RAM 3.

Of course, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, whether to display the contents stored in the save areas A to C on the display unit 7 is an optional matter, and means for outputting the contents stored in the save areas A to C to the outside of the information processing apparatus 12. Also, the present invention is not limited to the means of the above-described embodiment, and may be other means. Also, a flexible disk drive device such as a personal computer is
It is needless to say that it is not necessary to connect the output unit 8 to the flexible disk drive device using a cable or the like as described above in the information processing device 12 integrated with the flexible disk drive device.

In addition, the number of evacuation areas is not limited to three and may be at least one.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a RAM of the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a save process performed by the information processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a display process performed by the information processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an output process performed by the information processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a print process performed by the information processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 EEPROM 5 Interface 6 Operation part 7 Display part 8 Output part 9 Input part 10 Printer 11 Power supply 12 Information processing device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a processing unit that executes a program; and a storage unit that has a first area used by the processing unit and that does not lose stored contents even when the power is turned off. A method for storing at least a part of the contents of the first area of the storage means by the time the power is turned on and before the first area of the storage means is used by the processing means. An information processing method, comprising: executing a saving step of saving to a second area. 2. An information processing apparatus comprising: a processing unit for executing a program; and a storage unit having a first area used by the processing unit and which does not lose stored contents even when the power is turned off. When the power is turned on, at least a part of the contents of the first area of the storage means is stored in the second area of the storage means before the processing area uses the first area of the storage means. An information processing apparatus, comprising: an evacuation unit for evacuation of the information. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an output unit that can output the content saved in the second area of the storage unit by the save unit to outside the storage unit. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising display means for displaying the content output by said output means to the outside of said storage means. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second area of said storage means has a capacity sufficient to store a plurality of saved contents. 6. An information processing apparatus comprising: a processing unit for executing a program; and a storage unit having a first area used by the processing unit and having storage contents that are not lost even when the power is turned off. Storage medium storing a program for storing at least the contents of the first area of the storage means before the processing means uses the first area of the storage means at power-on. A storage medium characterized by storing a save program for saving a part in a second area of the storage means.